Puxton Moor
Encyclopedia
Puxton Moor is a 31.07 hectare
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the North Somerset Levels
, near Puxton
, North Somerset
, notified in 1994. It is a large area of pasture land networked with species-rich rhynes
, now owned and managed as a nature reserve
by Avon Wildlife Trust
.
The rhynes contain rare plants such as Frogbit
and Rootless Duckweed, along with many scarce invertebrates such as the Hairy Dragonfly
and Water Scorpion. Birds seen at the site include; Skylark
, Reed
, Sedge Warbler
s, Whimbrel
, Whitethroat
and Reed Bunting
.
The site also contains a relict roman landscape which is evident in many of the fields; Medieval earthworks are also present.
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the North Somerset Levels
North Somerset Levels
The North Somerset Levels is a coastal plain, an expanse of low-lying flat ground, which occupies an area between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol in North Somerset, England...
, near Puxton
Puxton
Puxton is a village and civil parish, north west of Axbridge in the Unitary Authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England.The civil parish includes the isolated hamlets of East Hewish and West Hewish.-History:...
, North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
, notified in 1994. It is a large area of pasture land networked with species-rich rhynes
Rhyne
A rhyne , rhine/rhyne , or reen is a drainage ditch, or canal, used to turn areas of wetland at around sea level into useful pasture....
, now owned and managed as a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
by Avon Wildlife Trust
Avon Wildlife Trust
The Avon Wildlife Trust aims to protect and promote wildlife in the area of the former county of Avon — now Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, in England...
.
The rhynes contain rare plants such as Frogbit
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Frogbit, is a flowering plant belonging to the genus Hydrocharis in the family Hydrocharitaceae. In North America, it is referred to as Common Frogbit or European Frogbit to distinguish it from the related American Frogbit .It is a small floating plant resembling a small...
and Rootless Duckweed, along with many scarce invertebrates such as the Hairy Dragonfly
Hairy Dragonfly
Brachytron is a monophyletic genus of European dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae containing the Hairy Dragonfly , also known as the Hairy Hawker.- Description :...
and Water Scorpion. Birds seen at the site include; Skylark
Skylark
The Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
, Reed
Reed Warbler
The Eurasian Reed Warbler, or just Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds across Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....
, Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler
The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
s, Whimbrel
Whimbrel
The Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the mostwidespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland....
, Whitethroat
Whitethroat
The Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...
and Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
The Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....
.
The site also contains a relict roman landscape which is evident in many of the fields; Medieval earthworks are also present.
See also
- Biddle Street, YattonBiddle Street, YattonBiddle Street, Yatton is a 44.8 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Yatton in North Somerset, notified in 1994....
and Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn MoorsTickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors SSSITickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors SSSI is a 129.4 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn on the North Somerset Levels, notified in 1995....
, two other similar SSSIs on the North Somerset Levels.
Source
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 16 July 2006)